2010 — 22 February: Monday
As usual, it's somehow managed to sneak up to become 00:30 already. Must be why the eyelids are slamming together. G'night.
I should know better...
... than to reveal weakness, Sudoku or other. Mind you, one of the things I enjoy about Brian (who's sent me the link here) is his charming faith in robots, computers, and Lego. (Scroll down to see the Sudoku solver.)
It's 10:36, moist, a mere +2C, and I'm enjoying my second cuppa. Down in far-off New Zealandland my sister-in-law is sporting an eye patch (and I've suggested she learns how to talk like a pirate until the end of her cataract surgery).
In the wider world...
... I see clearly that nominative determinism still rules... we have a lady called Christine Pratt who heads the national bullying helpline charity. She has released details about (confidential) calls made to it from Downing Street staff. Though, apparently, our fine and wonderful gorgeous leader is not named in the calls, so that's a big relief,1 isn't it? (Source.)
Having laughed at "The thick of it" and having also heard various wannabe insiders claim how true to life it is (much as some claim the "Dilbert" strip is) why is anybody in the least bit surprised by unpleasant behaviour at the top of the greasy pole? Strung-out power junkies in fear of losing their access to power are every bit as horrible as those hooked on more conventional drugs — but they are also a helluva lot more dangerous to a helluva lot more people (let alone to the poor ol' planet).
I obviously need some breakfast! There also needs to be a tad of supplies shopping in my near future. And (so far) Wednesday is looking like the only day that's mutually suitable for our next blast of overdue fresh air and country exercise. I have the Toyota accelerator pedal "fix" tomorrow, a lunchtime rendezvous at the IBM Clubhouse on Thursday and my chum Christopher's retirement lunch on Friday — busy boy, heh?
Thanks to Mark Kermode, I now know what Diablo Cody wrote next. Not sure2 I'll want to see it, though.
I've been reading some of the kerfuffle sparked by the proposal that the caped crusader should be allowed to sound off on BBC radio's "Thought for the day" (aka "the god slot" since it never permits us secular types any time on it — heaven forbid!). That took me, not totally directly, to the "Sell the Vatican, feed the world" clip here.
I still have no idea...
... how Christa managed to do all she did in the course of a day while also working. It's 13:16 and, although I grant you I'm back from shopping, I have yet to prep any lunch (though at least I know what's on my menu).
Later
If what I'm hearing the final chords of is, indeed, Paul Stanhope's Fantasia on a theme of Vaughan Williams for orchestra (it was) then, all I can say is it's a new one on me. I've just got back from a little afternoon adventure very similar to the one Mike took me on a mere 943 days ago :-)
I was checking the route down to Mr Toyota in case anyone's decided to do yet more road excavating. I found nothing exciting in Comet unless you count further evidence of the demise of the desktop and the rise of the netbook. I discovered that weekend drivers are also out and about on Monday afternoons, oddly.
That acquisitive streak
I've mentioned (and indeed watched and enjoyed) "On a clear day". I found the other title in Tesco. It's already now a decade since Sam Mendes made "American Beauty". Talk about the passage of Time.
I rather think there's a nice piece of fish downstairs with my name on it. It's 18:29 and the main news is the political bullying story of accusations and denials. Still, at least MPs are also suggesting that four homeopathic hospitals (partly funded by the NHS and [of course] approved of by Brenda's lad) are just dispensing sugar pills. (Source.)
De gustibus...
I lent my chum Len both Season #1 of "The Big Bang Theory" and the free DVD of the pilot episode of "Nurse Jackie" that was enclosed with "Weeds" Season #5. It appears I managed a 50% success rate:
Big Bang Theory: Yesterday I popped the first BBT disk into my player. After 5 mins I had come to the conclusion it really wasn't for me. After 7 I decided eating my shoes was probably a more enjoyable way to spend the evening. I'll give it another go with a different episode but I really don't hold out much hope.
Nurse Jackie: Nurse Jackie I tried tonight. I'd just finished a chicken vindaloo when I started it, and despite the urgings of the curry I watched it all the way through. I just about made it upstairs afterwards. I've a couple of episodes on disk I pulled down with get_iplayer and there is another tonight, but I will ration them otherwise I'll end up watching them all back-to-back.
I don't think I could survive one of his curries! Meanwhile, I've thoroughly enjoyed the Sam Mendes film. And, courtesy of its trailers, I've been reminded of the Nick Hornby scripted "An education" (based on Lynn Barber's memoir), the about-to-be-released second episode in the "Twilight" saga, and a new film by the chap who made "Delicatessen", "The City of Lost Children", and the weirdly wonderful "Amelie". I'd not heard of "Mic Macs" but the trailer is a hoot.